Chasing Lions .... Again

I had the opportunity to speak to our men's group last Wednesday, and it was challenging to say the least. I really felt God impressing me to speak on 2 Samuel 23 and the story of Benaiah.

I love the story and learned tremendously the last time I study through the material. But this time God was going to take it a little deeper into my life than last time. He had more He wanted to show me and have me experience. Man I really enjoyed the preparation.

Now it becomes time to take the principles He teaches through His word and allow it to take root in our lives and produce. Facing fears, taking risks, and being willing to look foolish to the world while being so God conscious we forget all our inhibitions.

Gotta go, got a lion to catch.

Rick

Encouragement

Wow! Encouragement is such a powerful weapon.

Weapon? Yep, to defeat the enemy! And I have to include it in my arsenal. It must become a weapon of choice. It is powerful to protect my fellow soldiers in the battle.

He is "seeking who he may devour" and that puts a target on the back of every christian. Even non believers. He would destroy all if he could. How powerful a word of encouragement is to a worn or weak brother or sister engaged in the battle. I know there have been times in my life when I felt defeated, and someone encouraged me. It renewed my spirit, caused hope to begin to spring up inside me, and gave me strength to continue.

So as I go through my day, I want to be an encouragement to others. I need to be an encouragement. I MUST be an encouragement. (1 Thessalonians 5:11) I'm going to find ways to encourage others (Ephesians 4:29). Pointing them to the ONE who offers hope for the hopeless, help for the helpless, and rest for the restless.

Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of our faith! (Hebrews 12:2)

Day 8 Kick Start

Living Life At Full Throtle - I like the sound of that.

Day 7

Frozen dreams - Cool thought ;-)

Man, I thawed my dream a few years ago, and I'm living it out now!

I'll catch you later, gotta go live some more of my dreams. What a great life.

Rick

Day 6 Monkey Bars and Letting Go

Monkey bars are for children, every great playground has some. I watched my grandchildren this weekend climb higher and reach farther on the monkey bars on the playground than I have stretched myself in a long time. In fact the monkey bars were the busiest piece of playground equipment. Children were stretching the limits and reaching for bars they barely could make.

There is another aspect of the monkey bars, moms and dads. Moms and dads strategically placed all throughout the monkey bars in order to catch their precious adventurers in case the went too far and couldn't get back. Some children, had no problem letting go and trusting they would be caught. But one little boy I say wouldn't even let go when his dad had a tight hold on him. His dad had to actually pull him down forcefully with the boy screaming in fear.

I think that might be me. Trying desperately to hold on to something I can't accomplish even though God is telling me to let go and trust Him. At times I am even screaming to the top of my lungs about how upset I am that I am having to do this thing, that I don't have the time, or the resources, but not willing to let go. There have been times I became paralyzed because I wouldn't let go. All other tasks became non existent because I was consumed with the idea that I couldn't make progress in a specific area and I stayed they as a child stuck on a monkey bar while other children ran to other areas and played with other pieces of equipment.

Lord help me let go and trust you, the one who loves and cares for me, in all areas of life. I know you will work for my good and you have promised to care for me.

Rick

Traveling and Trying To Blog

Wow, who thought I could be so busy while trying to take some time off? We traveled all day Thursday and it seems like it's been a whirlwind since then.

Day 5 - We have to stay healthy

Lord, thank you for this concept. I will do my best to breathe and stay healthy.

I realize I have made decisions in the past about what I would do based on what I felt like. I realize I have been given the joy of emotions and although I have limited control over how I feel, I can't let my emotions and feelings control me. Jesus got mad, cried, and felt many of the same emotions we feel, but He never sinned. He didn't let His emotions control Him.

Health-Check up

Spiritual - 9

Physical - 4

Emotional 6

Relational 8

Lord, my health in these four areas of life begin with my relationship with you. Help me stay close and clean. I am working on my health, help me loose 30 lbs. by the end of the year as well as increase my physical well being to the point I can stop my blood pressure medicine. Emotionally help me renew my mind and surrender my emotions of weakness to you. Relationally I commit to improving my relationships with 4 people this year.

Your servant,

Rick

Day 4 Connected to the Creator!

This could not have come at a better time, thank you Lord.

Healthy things grow - DUH - I shouldn't "seek" spiritual growth, if I'm healthy it takes care of itself, healthy things grow. I will focus on spiritual health. John 15:1-15 is a wonderful passage on spiritual health. He is the vine, I am a branch. I must stay connected to be healthy, how simple is that?

There's gonna be pruning, I must embrace pruning. I often ask for blessing, but seldom (O.K. almost never) ask for pruning. But pruning is a necessary part of a healthy vineyard. (Let me be corny -Pruning the vine, often produces whine ;-) ) Pruning is painful but productive. Required to bear more and better fruit.

That seems simple enough:

Connect to the vine - My power source

Stay connected to the vine - My daily time with Him

Embrace pruning - Be willing to have God remove the "dead" branches

Lord help me remove the barriers to spiritual that weaken my spiritual health. Help me stop relying on my own power and stay connected to yours. Your wisdom is endless, your abilities are boundless, and your love for me is more than I can ever know. I want to live in your power today.

Your servant, Rick